NTSB Factual Report

On March 22, 2018, about 1830 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Star-Lite S1L airplane, N197X, collided with power lines while attempting to land at a private airstrip near Dewitt, Michigan. The pilot initially survived the accident but later succumb to his injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight.

While on short final to the pilot's private airstrip, landing to the west, the airplane collided with power lines about 200 ft short of the runway. The airplane descended and impacted terrain.